ST. PAUL — Marty Seifert, a leading Republican candidate for governor, on Thursday named a suburban state legislator as his running mate.

Seifert and Rep. Pam Myhra made their public debut at a Capitol news conference. Myhra is a two-term lawmaker and former CPA from Burnsville. Seifert, who hails from Marshall, sought to contrast the rural-suburban nature of his ticket with that of Gov. Mark Dayton. The incumbent Democrat recently tapped Tina Smith, his former top aide, as his second-term running mate; the two both hail from Minneapolis.

“Mark Dayton and an all urban, liberal Minneapolis ticket is not a balanced choice for Minnesota,” Seifert said.

Myhra was elected to the House in 2010 by defeating a Democratic incumbent, and re-elected in 2012.